Means for assembling resilient grommets to gear shift selector arms



April 13, 1948.` H. J. YELKIN l 2,439,501 MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING RESILIENT GROMMETS T0 GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR ARMS Filed sp't. 4, 1946 Inventor Herman J )6Min Y Patented Apr. 13, 1948 MEANS FOR ASSEMBLING RESILIENT GRGMMETS T GEAR SHIFT SELEC- TOR ARMS Herman J. Yelkin, Long Beach, Calif. Application September 4, 1946, Serial No. 694,724

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a novel means for i assembling resilient grommets to the gear shift selector arms of automobile transmission mechanisms.

Grommets of the abovekind include a rubber collar adapted to i'it snugly in an opening of the gear shift selector arm and lined with a metallic sleeve or tubular bushing and having external ilanges of different diameters on the respective ends thereof, the flange of smaller diameter being of slightly greater diameter than that of the opening in the gear shift selector arm. The grommet cannot be installed or assembled to the gear shift selector arm Without grinding away the flange of smaller diameter or injuring the metallic sleeve or tubular bushing with which the grommet collar is lined, unless a special tool is provided for the purpose.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a novel means for assembling a grommet of the above kind to a gear shift selector arm without the necessity of grinding away the grommet flange of smaller diameter and without injuring the metallic sleeve or tubular bushing with which the grommet collar is lined.

The exact nature of the present invention, as well as further objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection'with the accompanying drawing, in which:

yFigure l is a side elevational view of a hand tool which preferably forms part of the means forming part of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof Figure 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, illustrating the manner. of using the present means, including the tool of Figures l and 2, for assembling the grommet to a gear shift selector arm.

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the grommet.

Figure 5 is a topv shown in Figure 4. l

Figure 6 is a side elevational View of one of the presser membersforming part of the tool shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the presser member shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the other presser member forming part of the tool shown in Figure Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a guide member adapted for use with the tool of Figure 1 and forming part of the means constituting part of the present invention.

plan view of the grommet Referring in detail to the drawing, the present invention contemplates a means for assembling to a gear shift selector arm 5 a resilient grommet 6. The grommet 6 consists of a rubber collarl adapted to iit snugly in an opening- 8 of the gear shift selector arm 5. The collar 'l is lined with a metallic sleeve or tubular bushing 9, and it has external flanges I0 and I l of diierent diameters which are provided on the respective ends of the collar l. diameter than that of the opening 8 in the gear vshift selector arm 5, and in order to assemble the grommet to the selector arm 5, it is necessary Ato force the flange I0 through the opening 8 of the arm 5. In vview of the thickness and stiffness of the collar and its flanges, this is a diicult task without the aid of special means or tools. In the absence of such special means or tools, it has 'been lthe practice to grind away the ange I0 and to force the grommet into place by any means at hand, which means usually causes injury to the sleeve or tubular bushing 9 with which the collar l is lined. As a result of grinding away the flange Ii] and injuring the sleeve or bushing 9, the grommet will not stay in place and annoying rattle results, thereby defeating the very purpose for which the grommet is intended. In any words, th'e grommet is primarily used as an anti-rattler when installed in the opening of the gear shift selector arm.

In accordance with the present inventiom the grommet is placed upon a presser disk i2 which is preferably of, a diameter equal to the diameter of the ange il of the grommet collar and which has a center pin I3 of a length substantially less than the length of the grommet, the center pin i3 being snugly received in the lower end of the bushing 9. A guide member llly is then placed upon the grommet, which guide member consists of a disk l5 of slightly less diameter than that of the opening 8 in the selector arm 5 and which has a center pin l5 of a length substantially less than the length of the grommet, the ends of the center pins |13 and i6 contacting within the bushing 9 of the grommet. The selector arm 5 is thenplaced above the grommet as shown in Figure 3 with the disk i5 of the guide member entered within the opening of the selector arm sic that the grommet is also centered with respect to the'opening 8 of the arm 5. A second presser member or disk Il is then placed on the selector arm 5, the presser member or disk Il havinga recess I8 of a size to receive the disk l5`of the guide member and the flange I0 of the grommet collar. The recess ilil of the presser member or The flange l0 is of slightly greater'l 3 4 disk I1 is axially aligned with the opening 8 of the selector arm 5, and then the presser members or disks I2 and I1 are forced together so as to press therange I of the grommet collar upwardly through the opening 8 in the selector arm 5. By using the means described, this can be accomplished in a quick and easy manner without distorting or injuring the bushing or sleeve 9 and Without previously reducing or grinding away the flange Il) of the grommet. As a result of this, the grommet is quickly assembled to the selector arm in its original condition so that it`effective1y serves its purpose as an antirattler.

As shown, the presser members or disks I2 and I1 preferably constitute the jaws of a tool of the plier type including crossed handles I9 and 20 pivbted together intermediate their ends and at their crossing points as at 2l and provided at corresponding ends with hand grips 22 and 23, the presser members I2 and I1 being pivoted to the other ends of the handles I9 and 2U as at 24 and 25. The presser members I2 and I1 are preferably provided with spaced ears v2li and 2l between which the ends of the handles are received and through which the pivot pins 24 and 25 are passed. Of course, the presser members I2 and I1 are located at the adjacent or inner sides of the associated ends of the handles I9 and 20, and these ends of the handles may `be swung a sufiicient distance apart to admit the grommet, the guide member and the selector arm as shown. The presser members are forced toward each other simply by pressing the hand grip portions 22 and 23 of the handles toward each other.

From the'foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present means will be clearly understood and appreciated. Minor changes are contem- 4 plated, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. l 1

What I claim is:

1. A means for assembling a resilient grommet collar to the gear shift selector arm of an automobiletransmission mechanism, wherein the grommet comprises a rubber collar adapted to fit snugly in an opening of the gear shift selector arm, said collar being lined with a metallic tubular bushing and having external flanges of different diameters on the respective ends thereof, the flange of smaller diameter being of slightly greater diameter than that of the `opening in the gear shift selector arm, comprising a presser disk having a center pin of a length substantially less than the length of the grommet and of a diameter to be snugly received in one end of the bushing of the grommet, aA guide member consisting of a disk of slightly less diameter than that of the opening in the selector arm and having a center pin of a diameter to be snugly received in the other end of the bushing of the grommet and to contact the center pin of the vfirst named presser disk within the bushing when the presser disk and the disk of the guide member are engaged with opposite sides of the grommet collar, a second presser member having a recess of a size to receive the disk of the guide member and the grommet flange of smaller diameter, and means for forcing the presser members together with the recess of the second named presser member axially aligned with the opening of the selector arm.

2. The construction dened in claim l, in combination with a pair of crossed handles pivotally connected together and having said presser members pivoted to corresponding ends thereof.

HERMAN J. YELKIN. 

